Commercial Auto · Auto Repair Shops
Insurance for Auto Repair Shops and the Vehicles in Your Care
Auto repair shops need coverage most business policies don't include: garage liability for the work you do, garagekeepers coverage for customers' vehicles while they're in your care, and commercial auto for your tow trucks and shop vehicles. A standard business policy leaves the cars on your lot — the ones you don't own — unprotected. Flatland builds repair-shop programs across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Iowa that cover your work, your building, and every key on the board.
Who this is for
Who this is for
- Independent auto repair and mechanic shops
- Body shops and collision centers
- Tire, brake, and quick-lube shops
- Tow operators and roadside-service businesses
- Mobile mechanics with service trucks
- Specialty/performance and fleet-maintenance shops
Coverage
What insurance does an auto repair shop actually need?
| Coverage | What it protects | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Garage Liability | Injury/property damage from your operations | All shops |
| Garagekeepers | Customers' vehicles in your care/custody | All shops |
| Commercial Auto | Tow trucks, service trucks, shop vehicles | Most |
| General Liability | Slip-and-fall, premises, customer areas | All shops |
| Tools & Equipment | Lifts, diagnostics, shop tools | All shops |
| Workers' Comp | Employee injuries (required with a crew) | Anyone w/ staff |
| Property / BOP | The building, contents, signage | Owners |
The distinction
Garage liability vs. garagekeepers — what's the difference?
GARAGE LIABILITY covers damage YOUR shop causes to OTHERS — a customer hurt on your lot, or damage you cause to someone else's property during work. GARAGEKEEPERS covers damage to the CUSTOMER'S VEHICLE while it's in your care, custody, or control — fire, theft, vandalism, or your tech backing it into a post. Most general business policies EXCLUDE the cars you don't own, which is exactly the repair shop's biggest exposure.
Clean rule: liability = harm your work causes others; garagekeepers = harm to the vehicles you're holding.
What we build
Coverage we put together for repair shops
Garage liability + garagekeepers sized to your lot, commercial auto for tow/service trucks, tools & equipment for the lifts and diagnostics, GL + property/BOP for the building, and workers' comp for the crew. One program, one agent, no gaps between carriers.
Why Flatland
Why Flatland for repair shop coverage?
We come from the commercial-vehicle world — we already understand the trucks, the tow rigs, and the owners who run them. A repair shop sits right in the middle of everything we cover: vehicles, liability, and a building full of expensive equipment. We get the whole picture, not just the storefront. Licensed across MO, KS, OK, TX, CO, IA. An independent agency working with a wide variety of carriers and markets to fit each client's needs. Real claims people. Bilingual capability.
By Zachary J. Kramer, licensed insurance agent, 20+ years' experience, NPN 7570201, Baylor University BBA. Flatland Expeditions LLC, founded in 2022 — an independent agency/broker working with a wide variety of carriers and markets to fit each client's needs.
FAQ
Auto repair shop insurance FAQs
- Does my business policy cover customers' cars on my lot?
- Usually not — most general business and property policies exclude vehicles in your care that you don't own. That's what garagekeepers coverage is for.
- What's the difference between garage liability and garagekeepers?
- Garage liability covers damage your operations cause to others; garagekeepers covers damage to customers' vehicles while in your custody.
- Do I need commercial auto for my tow truck?
- Yes — tow trucks and service vehicles need commercial auto, often with on-hook/cargo coverage for the vehicles you're towing.
- How much does repair shop insurance cost?
- It depends on your shop size, services, lot capacity, and payroll. Fastest path to a real number is a quote.